Jesus Brings Us Life can be used for a full year of religious education on the primary level. Its twenty-two lessons are tailored for the parish situation, where time and resources are often limited.

Activity pages in the textbook make it easy to keep children involved in the lesson content. Sacramental "How-To's" present the practical aspects of liturgical participation in a way that children can easily grasp and remember. Special sessions for Advent and Lent connect the sacramental experience to the Church year.

PART 1: We Belong to God's Family 1. God Is Close to Us 2. God Speaks to Us 3. The Holy Spirit Helps 4. We Share God's Life 5. Signs of God's Presence 6. God Likes to Hear Us	Based on the first "pillar" of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 1 offers introductory material on God, Father, Son and Spirit; revelation and the Bible; Church; grace; sacraments; prayer. It gives children a firm foundation for approaching the Lord with joy and trust as they begin an active sacramental life as members of the Church.
PART 2: Jesus Helps Us Live God's Way 7. We Learn God's Ways 8. We Love Each Other 9. We Enjoy God's World 10. We Need God's Help 11. God Gives Us Peace 12. God Helps Us Get Ready 13. God and the Church Welcome Us 14. We Learn to Do Better	Part 2 moves into our response to God's love, shown to us in Jesus. The children are introduced to the Two Great Commandments and the Ten Commandments. Heirs of Adam and Eve, we also know firsthand our need for God's help and mercy. The sacrament of Penance is presented in this Part, and can be fruitfully celebrated after Lesson 14. Part 2 draws from the third pillar of the Catechism for it presentation of Catholic morality, and from the second pillar for its treatment of Penance.
PART 3: Jesus Gives Himself to Us 15. We Give Thanks with Jesus 16. Easter is Our Biggest Celebration 17. Jesus Is with Us at Mass 18. We Live by God's Word 19. Jesus Is Our Gift to God 20. Jesus Is Our Holy Communion 21. Jesus Teaches Us to Pray 22. Pentecost Is a Day of Joy	Part 3 celebrates the gift of the Lord's life, given to us and for us. The Mass is presented in its Paschal context. Suggestions for active participation in the parish Eucharist assist children in carrying out their role as members of the Church. Lesson 20 offers the final preparation for First Eucharist. Lessons 21 and 22 reinforce this first sacramental encounter with Jesus as a kind of "mystagogy" leading toward mission in the Church. The second and fourth pillars of the Catechism serve as the basis for Part 3.
SPECIAL SESSIONS Jesus Is Coming We Grow in Lent How to Celebrate the Sacrament of Penance What We See and Do at Mass

Sacrament preparation is an ideal time for reaching (and teaching) young parents. Jesus Brings Us Life offers reproducible "Family and Homework Sheets" for each lesson. Found in the Teacher's Manual, the pages present a brief summary of key concepts from each lesson, and offer an activity, puzzle, or project that parents can share with their children.

The manual also offers suggestions (within the lesson plans) for including parents and guardians in the parish religious education program, and especially in the sacramental celebrations themselves.

The teacher's manual is your primary tool for personal enrichment and successful teaching. It provides material that can be trimmed and shaped to fit your situation, your students, your time frame, and your personal preferences. Some of the features of the Teacher's Manual are:

Each lesson plan opens with two pages for the personal preparation and enrichment of the teacher. These pages follow the same methodology used in the student text. This background allows the teacher to "walk through" the lesson in a deeply personal way. When the teacher then walks into the classroom, it will be to share a faith that has been newly enkindled, not simply to hand on a lesson.

The "Experience" in the teacher preparation mirrors the "We Share" in the Student Text. This step invites personal reflection, and creates a mood or climate for receiving and internalizing the message.

"Message" explores the main doctrinal content of the lesson. The teacher is invited to dwell on the subject, to discover new riches in the Church's tradition. (This corresponds to "We Listen" in the Student Text.)

"Response and Growth" offers the teacher the opportunity to apply the Word of God to life in a new and practical way. (This is the goal of "We Choose" and "We Grow" in the Student Text.)

In addition to offering a substantial help in preparing for the concrete task of teaching, the solid background offered in the Personal Enrichment pages can contribute to a deeper understanding on the part of the teacher of Church theology and tradition. It can ground a sure growth in spirituality.